The UK Borders Bill

This year’s immigration Bill seeks to implement some aspects of the Government’s five-year plan for immigration and asylum, its review of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate and its plans for an identity card scheme. It does not propose an integrated borders agency. I ts main provisions would give immigration officers more police powers; require foreign nationals living in the UK to get biometric immigration ID cards which could be compulsorily checked; and provide for automatic deportation orders with limited rights of appeal for foreign national prisoners.

Other provisions would allow residence and reporting conditions to be imposed on foreign nationals in the UK; extend the scope of offences of facilitating illegal immigration and human trafficking; and give immigration officers access to HM Revenue and Customs information.

The Bill is due to be debated on second reading in the House of Commons on Monday 5 February 2007.

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The UK Borders Bill